Conductive interface for a light adjustment sheet

• US 10,018,882 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2016
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bernard Kok Yien Kwan, Winston Cheng
• Original Assignee: Bernard Kok Yien Kwan, Winston Cheng
• Inventors: Kwan, Bernard Kok Yien, Cheng, Winston
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Timothy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Egoavil, Guillermo
• Application Number:
  US15/201,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20170023820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 174 74 R, 174 75 R, 29831, 29832, 349150, 349152, 349 86, 349149, 439 72, 264250, 359276, 359296, 359266, 359227
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13452 Conductors connecting driver circuitry and terminals of panels
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/66 with pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2406 having needles or pins

Abstract

Embodiments of an apparatus for connection to a light adjustment sheet and conductive interfaces for connection to a light adjustment sheet are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus for connection to a light adjustment sheet include a power source interface configured to be connected to a power source and a sheet interface electrically connected to the power source interface. The sheet interface is configured to connect to the light adjustment sheet such that electricity can be conducted from the power source interface to the light adjustment sheet to switch the light adjustment sheet between different visibility states. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a light adjustment sheet that comprises electrical insulation exterior layers, electrical conductive interior layers, and a light adjustment layer that is located between the electrical conductive interior layers, the light adjustment sheet having a first major external surface and a second major external surface;

a power source interface configured to be connected to a power source; and

a sheet interface electrically connected to the power source interface, wherein the sheet interface is configured to connect to the light adjustment sheet such that electricity can be conducted from the power source interface to the light adjustment sheet to switch the light adjustment sheet between different visibility states;

wherein the sheet interface comprises a first tape-type conductive interface attached and/or adhered to the first major external surface of the light adjustment sheet and a second tape-type conductive interface attached and/or adhered to the second major external surface of the light adjustment sheet; and

wherein the first tape-type conductive interface passes through a respective one of the electrical insulation exterior layers of the light adjustment sheet to make a conductive connection to a respective one of the electrical conductive interior layers and wherein the second tape-type conductive interface passes through a respective one of the electrical insulation exterior layers of the light adjustment sheet to make a conductive connection to a respective one of the electrical conductive interior layers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical insulation exterior layers are made of a material that is selected from the group consisting of glass, Polyester (PES), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polyethylene (PE), High-density polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), High impact polystyrene (HIPS), Polyamides (PA), Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polyethylene/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (PE/ABS), Polycarbonate (PC), Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (PC/ABS), and Polyurethanes (PU), wherein the electrical conductive interior layers are made of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), Zinc oxide (ZnO) or graphene, and wherein the light adjustment layer is made of Polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC), electrochromic material, Suspended particle device (SPD) material, or liquid-crystal display (LCD).

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source interface comprises a socket to which a power cable is connected.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheet interface is configured to be connected to the light adjustment sheet by a user.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a light adjustment sheet that comprises electrical insulation exterior layers, electrical conductive interior layers, and a light adjustment layer that is located between the electrical conductive interior layers, the light adjustment sheet having a first major external surface formed by a first electrical insulation exterior layer and a second major external surface formed by a second electrical insulation exterior layer;

a power source interface configured to be connected to a power source; and

a sheet interface electrically connected to the power source interface, wherein the sheet interface is configured to connect to the light adjustment sheet such that electricity can be conducted from the power source interface to the light adjustment sheet to switch the light adjustment sheet between different visibility states;

wherein the sheet interface comprises;

a first tape-type conductive interface attached and/or adhered to the first major external surface of the light adjustment sheet, wherein the first tape-type conductive interface passes through the first electrical insulation exterior layer of the light adjustment sheet to make a conductive connection to a first electrical conductive interior layer; and

a second tape-type conductive interface attached and/or adhered to the second major external surface of the light adjustment sheet, wherein the second tape-type conductive interface passes through the second electrical insulation exterior layer of the light adjustment sheet to make a conductive connection to a second electrical conductive interior layer;

wherein a first electrical cable of the power source interface is connected to an external surface of the first tape-type conductive interface; and

wherein a second electrical cable of the power source interface is connected to an external surface of the second tape-type conductive interface.